The drink package is KING. Once you get it, IT'S a game changer. Free at sea is amazing. Unlimited patron, champagne, champagne. Can't ask for anything better. I used to not get it. Now I do.

On our NCL last October, the package we had included wi-fi, 2 specialty dinner nights, excursion credit (which just about paid for it) plus cocktails and bottles of wine from the upper left of the wine list. It also included "bottlled" water. They were more like cartons. But one can always get water from the buffet. Just remember to fill a glass first then your bottle.

Thanks! I am a first time NCL cruiser. This really helped understand the free at sea drink package. I added it back to my cruise package. Now I'm ready for those mojitos!

For me it's not about getting my money back on the drink package. It's more about the convenience of not having to keep track of drink purchases

I've watched a bunch of videos on the NCL drink packages and yours was by far the most helpful!

My first two cruises in my life were on NCL (No Customer Love) 04/2022 on the Jewel for 5 days and 10/2022 on the Encore for 7 days. I bought the Soda Package for each cruise. I need to warn you first time cruisers that on my first cruise I was charged for about a third of the sodas I drank despite always showing them my cruise card with the printed “Soda” on it. The veteran staff never charged after looking at my card, in particular at the pool and buffet. At almost all sit down meals they insist on taking your card and more than half the time they will charge you and not tell you or provide a receipt. This meant going to Guest Services every day to wait in line to get to reverse these changes. They newer staff felt they would get in more trouble for not changing, than charging when they shouldn’t. This also happened to my two brothers, so check your cruise bill often. It is almost impossible to have they charges reversed after finishing your cruise. My second cruise on the Encore, one of their biggest ships had less issues. I was still charged for about 8 sodas, with 5 being reversed. The last charge for 3 sodas was never reversed despite bringing this up with Guest Services three times. They said the charge was wrong but wanted the Dining Manager to approve it and let their employee know they made a mistake. Tried getting reversed after the cruise with no luck. I heard other cruisers having similar problems, even with more expensive packages. I had a $250 CruiseNext credit with NCL and decided to try Princess cruise instead and avoid all the hassle. Night and day difference. So beware!

Thanks for the update. Love the switch to Coke! The free at sea offer from NCL is a great value if you drink alcohol.

Clear, easy and to the point. First video that made cense to me. Very helpful thank you

this was very helpful thank you!

I ended up getting premium beverage package, it has options I like a lot and it helps discount if I want a very expensive bottle or shot of something down 40% off.

Thank you …great video!!!!!

Useful vid. Thanks

Thanks.

My first cruise with NCL is in November. I booked the Free at Sea rate, but did not select the drink package. I am thinking about adding the Starbucks package after I get on board, but it will depend if I really need it. I am not a big alcohol drinker, so I didn't see the value at the time I booked. I didn't want to pay gratuity for 7 days, if I was only looking at 1 or 2 alcoholic beverages total for the week. Coffee, tea, and water are my go to beverages. I tend to stay away from fresh juices, as the natural sugar is too much for me. This was a very helpful video, thanks!

You should look at the free at sea plus upgrade and do a video on it.

THANKS for the info

Wow so well said. Thanks for sharing this information. We’re heading out on our third Ncl cruise this July and so far they seem to be a pretty good value but I’m not loyal to anyone cruise line lol.

This was sooooo helpful! Thanks!

Excellent

Great info video

Thank you very much. Now finally (after my VIVA Cruise 😂) I understand this free at sea/drink package that I've bought. I used it for only 2 drinks the whole 8 days 🙈. I'm not a big drinker but much more I was afraid to have to pay something additional 🤷🏽‍♀️ - but next time I'll use it so much more 😅🥳.

thanks great job

April 17-26 doing the NCL getaway. It’s 9 days $1,067 for unlimited drink package..can’t wait !

Great job!!!!

The bookings in 2023 getting the premium drink pkg or premium plus drink pkg will get 6 one litre containers of water in the cabin. Any bookings made before 2023 will still get the one pint of Flow water per cabin!

I like the way the two of you provide the information and it flows so well! I will be a Platinum latitudes level after my next cruise that I got coming up and my next three cruises I found had a latitudes points offer which added 2 more points per day so I am at 56 points now and after the first 7 days of my 14 day back to back I will be at 77 points so on the 2nd 7 days I will get the Platinum perks added.

Txs. Really helpful.

Hi, I’m on board de NCL Viva and just to let you know, I’m now cruising the NCL out of Rome and to my suprisse even the chat on board is charged, $9,95 PP. Ridiculous never seen this before. The Cruise ship is fantastic, the service so far is very nice, no complaints. No turndown service anymore, annoying. Very soon they will be charging for the AC 😂, no moisturiser either. I’ve bought the Vibe Beach Club and it’s so worth it. Very nice. Also upgraded the drink package and besides the water and Starbucks not entirely sure if it’s worth it. Anyway. Food is very good, just sailed with Celebrity (my last cruise, Aqua Class, loved the Blue and so far, the food on board this cruise is much better, really tasty). Just to let you know. In my opinion, I rather pay a little bit more for my cruise and have more inclusions than being charged for all the little extras, annoying. Thank you 😊

I'm going transatlantic next week, I can't imagine not having a drink package. I book as European and drink packages are cheap cheap cheap.

The free at sea perks does it include bottle water? Does it include virgin frozen drinks?

What types of coffee are included with the regular premium drinks package? I understand it doesn't include speciality coffees and Starbucks etc, but what defines specialty? Can you get espresso after dinner for example?

Thanks. Taking my First NCL cruise in July. Are shots included in the beverage package ?

Premium Plus offers garbage champagne now I found it cheaper to go without any of the packages.

i am going to buy the package and be drunk out of my mind all the time!

My wife and I have never had a problem getting a waiver for our children to have beer and wine. It doesn't matter what port in Florida we have sailed from.

Can I get Ice wine at diner included with the drink package?

Is there a way to add just the unlimited Starbucks package to the free at sea drink package? We do not drink alcoholic beverages.

I dont drink alcohol. just water, tea, milk and maybe a juice are two, are those included? Im going on a trip with my family, the adults in the family one might drink a wine or two but not me so should I op out of the package and how? also is any of the drinks on excursions by the ship included in the package?

The ultimate open bar package is what I'm talking about.Is it come with?I can get water or water bottles

One thing to remember..when you are in the US port, you are still charged taxes for your drinks...

Thank you this was helpful

I see gratuity is included, do you feel obligated to tip extra?

Thanks for this video. [[We have done 20+ cruises on Princess, NCL, Holland America and Celebrity. We are doing a repositioning from Lisbon to NYC in November -12 days]] We are going to opt for the Unlimited Open Bar Package which is a free perk. Q - I assume that the 20% gratuity is calculated only on the drinks we actually consume and that there is not a daily gratuity charge even if no drinks are consumed. Am I correct? Q - Are there any limits to the number of glasses of wine that will be served at dinner? If not then I assume that the main reason someone would select a bottle of wine is because of the limited selection of wines by the glass. Correct?

Are you allowed to bring your own wine or water onboard?

i AM Totally confused. I went on an 8 day to the Bahamas (NYC) on the NCL Getaway in March 2023. Supposedly was "Free at Sea"? I do not drink alcohol. Did I pay for a full alcoholic beverage package with my fare?? I don't understand WHO would pay $109/day for a drink package if the "Free at Sea covers all your alcoholic beverages? Totally confused.

How many drinks can I order at a time? For example, can I say I’d like a shot and this drink. Can I do that or is it one drink at a time?

My 2018 and 2019 cruse package included JIM Beam Manhattan in 2018, then they changed the Bourbon on our 2019 Cruise! However, my wife has one drink per day, and on a cruise paying for this package, I can drink at least 3 Bourbon Manhattans up to 5 drinks in the day when I am not driving! And now NCL is changing the entertainment on the cruise! We loved our 2018 and 2019 cruises on NCL! I am petrified of the water, but wanted my wife to have her bucket list cruise! It was great, and we did another in 2019! Now NCL is changing all their cruse requirements for 2023, and I am watching what they are offering us in our 70's!

Quick question for y’all. If I get the soda package, you mention tonic and soda water. Does it also include plain seltzer without the sugar or salt? TIA

Does the NCL starbucks package also include the soda and stuff also?

It's not right for us. We don't drink alot. Not pleased with 3 different drink packages. That would be double for our 13 day cruise plus gratuity. I also don't like that the internet is only 150 minutes. For us, the gratuities add on over $1200 for our cruise. Don't think we would sail with NCL again.

We are on the Bliss next month and have the Standard unlimited open bar package. I heard another review say that starting in 2023, NCL started putting 6, 1 liter bottles of water in your room, if you have the drink package. Is this true?

Hi, thank you for this video. We are cruising on the Encore in September for 7 days. Our agent booked free at sea including premium beverages, shore excursions credit and wifi package. I myself don’t drink alcohol but happy to have mocktails, cool drink like coke etc and juice. My husband would only drink maybe 2 alcohol drinks per day and maybe 4-5 coffees. Is this package really value for us?

It would have been a simple thing to say the cost of a can of Coke is ... NOW I can decide if the price is good based on how many I might drink in a day. Not knowing the actual price leaves me with no point of reference.

We're going on the Pride of America which is the Hawaii cruise and we have what's called a "Hawaii Beverage Package". Do you know what this package includes?

I'm so confused, The cruise I'm looking at: Just Cruise Price = €669 , If I add the Free At Sea it's €868. Will I have to still pay 20% extra on top of that €868 price?

Do they serve Diet Dr Pepper? Can't bring on my own?

I'm a first time NCL cruiser. I just booked me a Back 2 Back I wonder do earn extra discount points? lol

Hi, I am Latitudes level. You said Latitude gets 45z discount. Is that on drinks and wine.?

What type of beers ? Like do they have miller lite and Michelob ultra? I got the drink package but am just wondering

Is milk included in the complementary fare

I'm going on the Pearl next year in an aft-facing penthouse suite with a large balcony that has a butler and concierge so my brother and I are getting 2 Specialty dinners for our room FAS then I will get 2 Specialty dinners for my Platinum level the we are getting the FAS PLUS and that adds 2 more Specialty dinners as well as unlimited Internet for each and an additional $50 excursion credit for the 2nd person and top shelf liquors. The only thing that bothers me is hearing each ship not having enough of those top shelf liquors. Why can't NCL Be proactive getting enough for each cruise. They really should provide a refund for anytime they are out if the alcohol that you should have been able to get and that you paid extra to get! Then if course there's that latitude perk that they say a Platinum or above gets such as 2 Specialty dinners ine with a bottle of wine, but if a 2nd person in the same room is also Platinum or above they get stripped of their 2 Specialty dinners one with a bottle of wine! Can you say BREECH OF CONTRACT LATITUDES? We both did enough cruises to get the perks why is one getting stripped of their reward?

Does that mean if you are in port, you have to pay for all your drinks/soda?

Is drink package Excluded from pride of America out of honolulu?

No pastries in the Starbucks are included even in the pkgs.

NCL just updated their drinks this month (May 2023) so you'll need to update this video again. Several items are no longer available.

I select the beverage package with the free at sea because that is the only option the free at sea had that I wanted and why I bought the trip in the first place. I didn't need the shore excursions. I book my own. Didn't need the Internet or the meal. The guest service manager did offer to apply the beverage package to my account for $1,200.00. Would you pay that for 5 days of drinks under $15? NCL pretty much ruined a planned vacation. I am quite PISSED OFF about it. There were a lot of pissed off people on the Gem out of Venice on Jun 19th. I met 4 people that said the same thing happened to them with the free at sea. NO DRINKS. How about the couple that spent $1,400 for a private tour of Venice? NCL knew 3 months before the sail date that the Gem was not going to Venice, but they didn't inform anyone about that. Why would I book another trip with NCL after what happened to me? Why would anyone book another trip with NCL? There are a lot of other cruise companies out there that care more about the customer than NCL.

Does the regular open bar package you get with Free At Sea include piña, coladas, and strawberry daiquiris? (my favorite)

I only drink Seltzer can I get it free at the water stations?

So they give free water or do you have to buy it?

Did I read correctly that if you have the drink package they don’t get charged a corkage fee for bottles of wine that you bring onto the ship?

what happens if i have a free at sea package and i get 2 $9 drinks, do i get charged $1?

Are you allowed to bring your own bottled water?

Hi! At the end your mentioned a discount for latitude members what is the discount on? I have for instance 28 pts I believe right now.

$1159 per person for a 7 day cruise seems steep to me 🤔

Big breakfast and I'll break even by lunchtime 😂

I am confused by your Latitude Rewards percentage off? I have sailed NCL multiple times and I do not see this on their latitude details?

2 per transaction..?? So ..if we are at dinner... 1 order a glass of wine...my husband a beer. Can we order a 2nd round and that is 2 transactions..??

Maybe someone can answer a thing i wondering about: What counts as speciality coffee? If i order a espresso or a capuchino at a bar is it included or not?

I don’t drink anything except Seltzer aka Soda water, $9.95 a day seems like a lot for a 2 cent plain, does the ship offer anything to Accommodate me?

I couldn't hear your video.

I'm a bit confused. What are the loyalty discounts taken off? Drink packages?

Jeez. For 138 a day,you'd think thatd cover anything. Damn. I'd only use it a day or 2. I couldn't drink unlimited every day :/

Nice if. I could hear you

We are going April 2nd we have free at sea😂 seems like a good deal?

How often do you have to wait between drinks? Say I wanted two drinks at a time? Or for the Starbucks I want to order two drinks?

This sounds petty, but I am going on my 10th NCL cruise next week and I am really psyched about the change to Coke. I really didn't like the Pepsi.

Does anyone know if the starbucks package actually means unlimited drinks? Are there limitations to how many drinks you can get per day/transaction? And is starbucks open all day?

Hi i have a question, does norwegian sky have free dinks? If i dont want to pay for a package what can i drink during my trip? Greeting from Argentina

Not sure where you got those discounts? Not seeing them written anywhere! I always go with Casino At Sea, but I don't always have a cruise certificate for free fare. My last booking for 2024 I got my 10%off for military and only 20% for a Casino discount. Never any mention of latitudes tier level discounts! Can't get them to add that unless it's in writing on NCL site! What is that latitudes discount off of?

recorded at too low of volume. max vol and can't hear you

percentage off what???

Would love to hear this post but the volume is so low that I have to pass to another.

I just want to know why soda and water are so hard to come by, and why you pay So much for energy drinks. And soft drinks and bottled water? And the wine that goes with even the most expensive drink package is CRAP Wine!! Seriously, Gas Station Wine. I am never going on another cruise again. We went on a 10 day cruise, and the beds were hard, it was unbearably hot until day 3 when we could finally get someone to answer a phone. I know what you are thinking.. go down in person, but the customer service lines were Crazy!

Upgrade your sound, can't hear 1 word!!

Will you.put volume up!!!

unlimited drink packages? good luck getting your drink when there is only one or two bartenders

BEWARE-NCL has really gone downhill!!! Customer service is extremely poor. They don't worn you that if you are using your passport, your name has to be registered the same as on your passport. They made all kinds of mistakes on our group's registrations. Females as "Mr". Names were wrong and/or spelled wrong-Laura as "Lura" "John" for Keith and the list goes on. They will charge $150 for each change that needs to be made on your registration. We were charged $1,200 for all the changes from their mistakes we needed to make. They advertise entertainment that doesn't exist. The nickel and diming is outrageous. I received an airfare deal through NCL so they booked my flights. That's another horror story. You can see other reviews here with the same problems. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who thinks a tip more than 20% is good to get all staff used to? Some service staff don't even deserve 10%!

Coke sucks. Shame on NCL.

NCL Cruise Line SUCKS.... DO NOT take any of their cruises. The charge extra for everything, constantly change and cancel ports of call, make sea days out of ports of call without compensation, Hire crew with no experience, Cancel shows. The free perks are not worth it and it is much better to book your cruise with other cruise lines like Celebrity, RCCL or Holland America.